Folding top with inwardly collapsing side rails



Nov. 18, 1958 Gl c. R. KUIPER ETAL 2,850,913

FOLDING To? .WITH INWARDLY coLLAPsING SIDE RAILS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledNov. 1. 1954 in /0 Z 1 1:1.;65 '5f 1:5, 7' G 52g. 7 af if fz /Z if Nov.18, 1958 c. R. KUIPER ErAL 2,360,913

FOLDING 'rop WITH INWARDLY coLLAPsING SIDE RAILS Filed Nv. 1, 1954 v 5sheets-sheet 2 Nov. 18,l 1958 G. c. R. KUIPER ETAL 2,860,913

FOLDING 'rop WITH INwARDLY coLLAPsING SIDE RAILS Filed Nov. 1, 1954 slsheets-slim; s

United States Patent() FOLDING TOP WITH INWARDLY `COLLAPSING SIDE RAILSGerhard C. R. Kuiper, Birmingham, and John W. Pyuro,

Warren, Mich., assignors to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich.,a corporation of Delaware Application November 1, 1954, Serial No.'465,827

6 Claims. (Cl. 296-107) This invention relates to a folding top and moreparticularly Ito a convertible top for an automobile body.

lnrnany-known convertible tops, the raising and lowering of the top iscontrolled by various types of linkage systems associated with thesupporting'frame for thetop. hese linkage systems often require aninordinate amount of space within the automobile body since they usallyhave a large number of parts and are often very complicated. Thisinvention provides a convertible top which is raised and lowered withoutthe use of such linkage systems.

VIn the preferred Vembodiment of this invention, the'supporting frameforthe convertible topinclndes spaced side rails having pivotallyinterconnected front and rear` sections Vwhich fold'inboard of the bodylwhen the top is lowered'and unfold toward the sides of the body 'fromtheir inboard positions when the top s raised. The rear sections of theside rails are pivotally supported by the body. The pivotal connectionsbetween these sections and the body include vertical vaxes of rotationand axes of -rotation `angular'to the'vertical axes and in fixedrelationship thereto. The rear sections rotate aboiitthe angular yaxesof rotation to fold and lower the top orL to unfold and raise the top.After the top is partially `folded and partially lowered or partiallyunfolded and partially raised, the rear sections and the angular axesrotate slightly about the vertical axes of rotation before the top iscompletely folded and lowered Yor'cornpletely unfolded and raised.Locking means are provided to prevent folding movement of the side railswhen the top is in its raised position. A number of transverse bowsinterconnect the side rails, -one ofthe bows being foldable with theside rails, and a number of other bows are pivotally supported on thebody. A cable equalizer is provided to ensure equal rotation of therear'ral sections about the vertical axes.

An object of this invention is toprovide an improved convertibletop foran automobile. A more specific objeet of this invention tis to provide'aconvertible top for an automobile and a supporting frame for thetopincluding spaced sectional side rails foldableinboard of the body Vtolower the top and unfoldable toward the sides of the body to raise thetop, the folding and unfolding movement of the side rails and thelowering and raising of the top being controlled by rotational movenientof one of the sections of each rail about an axis angular to thehorizontal and a vertical axis. A further specific object of thisinvention is to provide a convertible top for an automobile and asnpporting'frame for the top Vincluding spaced sectional side railsfoldableinboard of ymovement of the side rails and the lowering andraising ofthe top `being controlled by rotational movement of yone of'the sectionsof each rail aboutyan axis angular to 'the horizontal `andavertical axis in fixed relationship to lthe `angular axis.

'These Vand-other objects of thisinvention will`be `readily y whenthe'top is in its raised position;

ICC

2 apparent from the following specification anddrawings,l in which:

Figure 1 is a partial view of a convertible automobile havingthefoldingtop of this invention mounted thereon showing the top in its raisedposition; i "f Figure 2 is a view of the same automobile showingthefolding top in its lowered position;

Figure 3 is an enlarged planview of the pivotalcom nectiony between theside rail sections and also theli'ckiiig mechanism preventing foldingmovement of the si" e rails Figure 4 is an enlarged View on'the planeindicatedby line 4 4 of Figure 1 showngthe locking mechanism;

Fignre 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of one of the rear railsections 'and its pivotal connection to the `alitomobile body, the Viewbeing'takenfin apartially lowered position of the top; and

Figure 6 is a top plan view ofthe pivotalconnec'tions of the rear railsections to the automobile body, the'A top being in itsl raisedposition. Y

Referring now 'to Figure 1 of the drawing s,"a convertiblefat'omobile 2vhasa `windshield`4 and a windshield header 6. A folding top i8 isprovided to cover the'ope'n body 10 of theautom'obile. Thesupporting'framefor'the top includes spaced side rails V12 pivotallysupportedby body 10 at 14 and having front sections 16 andrear isections18, a front header or bow y2() fitting over'tbe windshield header "6 andpivotally connected to theifront'se'ctions 16 by'pins 22, and transversebows 24, '26, 'and"2 8. Suitable latcbingmechanism may be providedtolatch the front header to'the'windshield header in theraisedposition ofthe top. The'sp'aced side rails v12 lfold inboard of the'body when thetop is lowered from its raised posi'- tion, and, in order lto preventfolding movementof ythe rails when the top is in its raised position, alocking mechanism 30 is provided. The supportingtfrarne'forfthe top isthe same on either side of the'body, and thereforerlike numerals will beused forlike parts. o

Figure 3 of the drawings shows the pivotal connections between the frontsections 16 and the rear -secti0ns18. The front sections 1'6 are slottedat 34 anditherear sections 18 areslotted at 36. Connecting links'3'8arefslotted at 40 and 42, and portions 44 and 46 of the front and rearsections 16 and r18, respectively, fit in theseslots'and portions 48 andSil-of links 38-lit -inslots 34 and-36,re spectively,'of the front andrear sections. VLinks v38'are pivotally connectedto the fro'nt sections/16 by pins 52 and lto the rear sections'18 by pins 54.

Referring now'to Figures l and Bof the drawings, Ibow 24 has threesections, a center section 56 and two endsections 58pivotally'co-nnected to -thecenter section at 60. The'upper surface ofeach link 38 has two uprighttlugs 62 and theend sections -58 of bowZ4-are pivotally--connected to lugs '62bypins y64 extending throughaligned openingsS in the lugs. The side rails12 fold nboard of vthebodywhenthe top is lowered, and the end sections 58 ofbow24 fold under thecenter section-56 asthe side 'rails move inboardof the'body. Thisallowsthe-,front header or bow y20,V bow 24, side rails 12,` and bows 26-and`ZSto-be-folded'together in a compact arrangement-pand stored withinthebody 10 inra well66-shown in Figure-2.

Figure 2 shows the -foldingtop in itsloweredlposition,

with the various parts of the top outlined in dash lines. A cover may-beprovided for Vwell/66 and mayeither be ypower-orY manually operated. Fora completedescr-iption of such a cover, reference may -be had toSeralNo. 405,106, vfiled January 20, 1954, KennethAFiCKer-ing, assignedt'o theassignee'of they present invention. n

Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings show the-locking mec-h,- anism -whichlocks links SS-to the Irearsections ;18when thetop is in its raised`position and prevents `the side rails from folding inboard ofthe-body"10. v'The upper surfaces of links 38 are provided with bosses 68with threaded bores 70. U-shaped brackets 72 extend over bosses 68 andhave openings 7 4 aligned with threaded bores.70. Brackets 72 aresecured to links 38 at 76. The upper surfaces4 of the rear sections 18have openings 78 which are in alignment with bores 70 when the top is inits raised position, as shown in Figure 4. Threaded studs 80 extendthrough openings 74 of brackets 72 and tit within bores 70. Pins 82 areprovided to limit the outward movement of the studs. The inner ends 83of studs 80 lit within openings 78, and the outer ends of the studs areprovided with knurled caps 84 by which the studs can be rotated.Compression springs 86 extend between caps 84 and brackets 72 andcontinually urge the studs outwardly from bores 70. Links38 mustbennlocked from rear sections 18 before the top can be lowered. This isdone by rotating studs 80 until their innerends 83 are removed fromopenings 78. When the top is raised, the studs are rotated in theopposite direction until their inner ends again tit withinl openings 78and lock links 38 to the rear sectionsl.

Figures and 6 show the pivotal connections 14 between the rear sections18 and the body 10. Brackets or supports 88 are bolted at 90 to bodypanel 71 forming the lower wall of well 66. Spacing members 92 and 94are provided between supports 88 and panel 71, and angular pads 96 areused to reinforce panel 71. The forward portions of supports 88 areformed to provide bosses 98 having vertical bores 100. Tapered annularmembers 102 have extensions 104 which are piloted in bores 100. Theannular members are retained in the bores by removable pins 105 fittingin annular grooves 106 of extensions 104 and grooves 107 in bosses 98.Thrust bearings 108 and washers 110 are provided between members 102 andthe upper surfaces 112 of bosses 98. Thus, the annular members rotateabout vertical axes and also form part of the pivotal connections 14between the rear sections 18 and the body 10, as will be described.

The upper portions of annular members 102 bear tubular heads 114 whichare oblique to the vertical axes of rotation of members 102. Theterminal portions 11S of rear sections 18 are secured to U-shapedbrackets 116, and reinforcing webs 117 are also provided to strengthenthis joint. The legs 118 of the brackets 116 are pivotally connected totubular heads 114 of annular members 102 by pins 120. Brackets 116 andtubular heads 114 form the pivotal connections between the rear sections18 and annular members 102, the axes of rotation of rear sections 18being defined by pins 120 oblique to the vertical axes of rotation ofmembers 102. However, it should also be noted that the rear sections 18can also move With annular members 102 and rotate about the verticalaxes of rotation of these members as well as the angular axes ofrotation. The vertical axes of rotation of members 102 intersect theangular axes of rotation in vertical planes,

with the points of intersection lying approximately at the midpoints ofpins 120 defining the angular axes of rotation.

Brackets 122 are secured to supports 88, and links 124 are pivotallyconnected to brackets 122 at 126. Links 124 are offset inboard of thebody at 128 and terminate in upright portions 130 which are pivotallyconnected to bows 26 and 28 at 132. The movement of bows 20 and 24 iscontrolled by the folding movement of the side rails 12, and themovement of bows 26 and 428 is controlled by fabric travel. Annularmembers 102 are provided with pulleys 134, and a pulley 136 is pivotallymounted at 137 on a bracket 138 mounted on panel 71 at 140. Pulley 136is placed to-the rear of a line between pulleys 134 in order thattension may be placed on cable 142 mounted on the pulleys. The cable issecured to pulleys 134 by suitable means, and has portions 144 and 145which pass over pulley 136. Portion 144 of cable 142 extends from theforward portion of the pulley 134 shown in the upper portion of Figure 6to the rear portion of the pulley 134 shown in the lower portion ofFigure 6, and portion 145 of the cable extends from the rear portion ofthe upper pulley 134 of Figure 6 to the forward portion of the lowerpulley 134. Thus, cable portions 144 and 145 cross between pulley 136and the lower pulley 134 of Figure 6 so that rotational movement of theupper pulley 134 through either a counterclockwise or a clockwise arewill cause rotational movement of the lower pulley 134 through the samearc in an opposite direction. The cable provides an equalizer forannular members 102, and equalizes the extent of rotation of eachannular member. If desired, annular members 102 may be provided withlateral extensions in place of the pulleys, one extension extending tothe rear of one member and the' other extension extending forward of theother member.- The extensions may be interconnected by a rod or link@ toequalize the extent of rotation of members 102 about their verticalaxes.

Referring now to Figure l, it will be noted that pins 22, 52, and 54 areparallel to each other although inclined to the vertical. These pinsmust be parallel to each other in order that the side rails 12 will foldinboard of the body or unfold toward the sides of the body. Although thepins are shown inclined to the horizontal, they may also be normal tothe horizontal, for as long as the pins are parallel to each other andallow folding movement of the side rails, their angular relationshipwith the horizontal is immaterial. Likewise, there is no correlationbetween the angular relationship of the pins to the horizontal and thevertical axes of rotation or the angular axes of rotation.

Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, the vertical axes of rotation ofmembers 102 intersect the angular axes of rotation defined by pins invertical planes at approximately the midpoints of pins 120. In thisspecific embodiment of the top, a plane passing through an angular axisof rotation and perpendicular to the vertical will intersect thehorizontal at an angle of approximately 30, and a plane passing throughan angular axis of rotation and normal to the horizontal will form anangle of approximately 39 with a vertical plane passing through thecenter line of the body. The angular relationship between an angularaxis of rotation and the horizontal or vertical is controlled by thewidth of the body, the depth of well 66, the length of well 66, and thespan of the top measured from a vertical axis of rotation ot the frontheader or bow. These factors also control the point of intersection of avertical axis of rotation and an angular axis of rotation, whether thepoint of intersection will be at the midpoint of a pin 120 defining anangular axis of 'rotation or will be offset from the midpoint, orwhether the axes of rotation will intersect or will lie in parallelvertical planes. Thus, each particular installation will require adifferent geometry between the vertical axes of rotation and the angularaxes of rotation and also between the angular axes of rotation and thehorizontal or vertical.

The operation of the top is as follows: Assuming that the top is in itsraised position shown in Figure 1 and it is desired to lower the top toits position shown in Figure 2. The front header or bow 20 will beunlatched from the windshield header 6 if necessary, and links 38 areunlocked from the rear sections 18 to allow the side rails to foldinboard of the body. The rear sections 18 are rotated inboard of thebody toward the center line thereof about the angular axes of rotationdefined by pins 120 until the side rails 12 are partially folded and theend sections 58 of bow 24 have partially folded under the center section56. The annular members 102 and the rear sections 18 are then held inxed relationship and the assemblies slightly rotated about the verticalaxes'of rotation, with the lower assembly shown in Figure 6 rotatingclockwise as viewed from above the body and the upperassembly in Figure6 rotating counterclockwise as viewed from above the body. This ismovemet'rof pins-22, 52an'd 54'fanclV thefcenter-'line of the f body,-rfor these f pins must move-parallel --to the eente'rvline `of the bodybeforethe top canbecompletely lowered. After this slight rotation, thefoldingof the topfis continued by rotation of the rear sections 18inboard of the-body toward; the center `linelthereof about theangularaxes fofrotation defined by pins `120. Then thefrearsections 18"and thevannular'me1nbers102 are again held in xed relationship 'and theassemblies slightly rotated about the vertical axes of rotation eitherto theirinitial.starting'position orto a position slightly beyond thisrposition, withv the lower assembly shown in Figure 6 rotatingcountercloclwise as viewed from abovethe bo'dyand vthe'upperass'ernblyshown in Figure 6 rotating clockwise as viewed from above the body. Thefolding of the side rails andrthecenter -bow -then continues'and theltop is lowered into well 66 as the rear sections 18 again rotateinboard of the body toward the center line thereof about the angularaxes of rotation defined by pins 120.

No mechanism is provided to hold the rear sections 18 and the annularmembers 102 in fixed relationship when both are rotated about thevertical axes of rotation, for this rotation by itself fixes theposition of these members. The rotation about the vertical axes is veryslight, and in certain installations may be negligible. This slightrotation takes care of any binding that may take place at the pivotalconnections formed by pins 22, 52, and 54, and ensures that as thefolding of the side rails and the center bow continues, the pins willmove parallel to the center line of the body as the top is lowered intowell 66. The exact points at which the rear sections 18 and the annularmembers 102 move toward the rear of the body and toward the forward partof the body about the vertical axes of rotation differ in eachinstallation. This rotational movement is very small and the folding andunfolding movement of the top is a continuous operation in allinstances.

To raise the top from its position shown in Figure 2 to its positionshown in Figure 1, the above operation is reversed, and when the top isin its raised position links 38 are again locked to the rear railsections 18. The rear bows 26and 28 rotate about horizontal `axes andare controlled by fabric travel alone. As the top is folded, the fabricloosens from its tightly stretched state in the raised position, andthese bows begin to approach well 66. As the folding operationcontinues, they assume the positions in well 66 shown in Figure 2. Whenthe top is raised, the bows are again Acontrolled by fabric travel anddo not assume their fully raised positions until the side rails arecompletely unfolded and the top fabric stretched taut over thesupporting fra-me.

Cable 142 is secured to pulleys 134, preferably at a point directlyoutboard of the vertical axes of rotation. As the rear sections 18 andannular members 102 are rotated about the vertical axes of rotation, thecable ensures that each annular member will rotate through an equal arcand prevents lateral movement of the supporting frame as it is loweredinto or raised out of well 66.

Thus, this invention provides a folding top for a convertible automobilehaving a minimum number of parts and easily operable to raise and lowerthe top. The sectional side rails of the supporting frame fold inboardof the body or toward the sides of the body as the rear sections rotateabout the angular axes and the vertical iXCS While a specific embodimentof this 'invention has been shown I21nd described, various changes andmodifications may be made within the scope and spirit of the invention.

We claim:

l. In an automobile having a body and a convertible top, a supportingframe for raising and lowering said top comprising, `spaced j-foldablerails, .beach .rail including afront rai l section and arear-railsectiofiln inane otllly interconnecting the sections fof-eachvr'ail for 'v ment thereof inboard of said body, means n i* Y Udefining a `pair fof converging axes'yextn ,y fg angularly forwardly.and downwardly inboard orfsa'id body, yand means swingably mountingeach of saidrear rail sections ona respective axis for folding `saidrails inboard ofsaid body upon pivotal movement :of said rear railsections rearwardly and Vdownwardly of Y said body about said axes. f f2. yIn an automobile having a body and-a convertible top, y-a'supporting `frame -for Iraising and low` "gsaid comprising, 'spacedfoldable-sidefrails, each` Vail including .a front rail sectionandja-rear rail section, .rneanspivotally interconnecting the sections ofeach -railfor ffoldin mo ementthereof inboard of Y1295i, ,lflQY defininga pair of converging intefsecting axes extending angularly forwardly anddownwardly inboard of said body, means swingably mounting each of saidrear rail sections on a respective axis for folding said rails inboardof said body upon pivotal movement of said rear rail` sectionsrearwardly and downwardly of said body about said axes, and means foradjusting the included angle between said intersecting axes duringfolding movement of said rails inboard of said body.

3. In an automobile having a body .and a convertible top, a supportingframe for raising and lowering said top comprising, spaced foldable siderails, each rail including a front yrail section Iand a rear railsection, means pivotally interconnecting the sections of each rail forfolding movement thereof inboard of said body, means on said bodydefining a pair of parallel spaced axes and a pair of converging axesextending angularly forwardly and downwardly inboard of said body, meansswingably 4mounting each of said rear rail sections on a respective oneof said converging axes for folding said rails inboard .of said bodyupon pivotal movement of said rear rail sections rearwardly anddownwardly of said body about said converging axes, and means forrotating each of said rear -rail sections about a respective `one ofsaid parallel spaced axes during folding movement thereof inboard ofsaid body to adjust the angular relationship betwen said convergingaxes.

4. In an automobile having a body and a convertible top, a supportingframe for raising and lowering said top comprising, spaced foldable siderails, each rail including a front rail section and a rear rail section,means pivotally interconnecting the sections of each rail for foldingmovement thereof inboard of said body, spaced means rotatably mounted onsaid body for movement about substantially parallel spaced axes anddefining a pair of converging axes extending angularly forwardly anddownwardly inboard of said body, means for swingably mounting each ofsaid rear rail sections on a respective one of said converging axes forfolding said rails inboard of said body upon pivotal movement of saidrear rail sections rearwardly and downwardly of said body about saidconverging axes, and means for rotating each of said spaced means abouta respective parallel spaced axis during folding movement of said railsinboard of said body for adjusting the angular relationship of saidconverging axes with respect to each other.

5. In an automobile having a body and a convertible top, a supportingframe for raising and lowering said tgp comprising, spaced foldable siderails, each rail including a front rail Section and a rear rail section,means pivotally interconnecting the sections of each rail for foldingmovement thereof inboard of said body, spaced means rotatably mounted onsaid body for movement about substantially parallel spaced axes anddefining a pair of converging axes extending angularly forwardly anddownwardly inboard of said body, means swingably mounting each of saidrear rail sections on a respective one of said eonvergingaxes forfolding said rails nboard of said body upon pivotal movement of` saidrear rail sections rearwardly Aand downwardly about said convergingaxes; and means interconnecting said spaced means for simultaneouslyrotating each of said means about a respective one of said parallelspaced axes during folding movement of said rails nboard of said body toadjust the angular relationship of said converging axes with respect toeach other.

6. In an automobile having a body and a convertible top, a supportingframe for raising and lowering said top comprising, spaced foldable siderails, each rail including a front rail section andfa rear rail section,means pivotally interconnecting tliesections of each rail for foldingmovement thereof nboard of said body, means on said body defining a pairof generally parallel spaced vertical axes and a pairof 'converging axesextending angularly forwardly'and downwardly nboard of said body, meansswingably mounting each of said rear rail sections on a respective oneof said converging axes` for folding said rails nboard of said body uponpivotal movement of said rear rail sections rearwardly and downwardly ofsaidbody about said converging axes, and means for rotating each of saidrear rail sections about a respective one of said parallel spacedvertical axes during folding movement thereof nboard of said body toadjust the angular rela- 10 tionship between said converging axes.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 152,768,857 Albrecht Oct. 30, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 40,609 Denmark July 31,1929

